Tony Simon (born October 8, 1976), better known by his stage name Blockhead, is an American hip hop record producer and DJ from

Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

. Aside from his solo efforts released on the

Ninja Tune Ninja Tune is an independent record label based in London, with a satellite office in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1990 by musicians Matt Black and Jonathan More, known collectively as Coldcut. The label was established as an outlet for Col ...

label, he is most associated with producing tracks for

Aesop Rock Ian Matthias Bavitz (born June 5, 1976), better known by his stage name Aesop Rock, is an American rapper and producer from Long Island, New York. He was at the forefront of the new wave of underground and alternative hip hop acts that emerg ...

. He has been a member of the groups such as

Party Fun Action Committee Party Fun Action Committee is an American hip hop group consisting of Blockhead and Jer. History Party Fun Action Committee released the first studio album, '' Let's Get Serious'', on Definitive Jux in 2003. The album peaked at number 7 on the ...

and The Mighty Jones.

Biography

Simon was born and raised in

Downtown Manhattan Lower Manhattan, also known as Downtown Manhattan or Downtown New York City, is the southernmost part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. The neighborhood is the historical birthplace of New York City and for its first 225 years was the ...

. He is the son of the late Sidney Simon, a sculptor based in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, and Renee Adriance, a social worker. He has one brother and five half siblings. At a young age, he loved hip hop in both the lyrical and musical aspects. In his early teens, Simon and his friends formed a group called the Overground, where he started making music. As an aspiring rapper, he enrolled in

Boston University Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodism, Methodists with its original campus in Newbury (town), Vermont, Newbur ...

and met

, another BU student. At this point, Simon quit rapping and focused on producing music. According to Simon, his stage name comes from the shape of his head: "While it's not square, it's pretty close."

Discography

Studio albums

* '' Music by Cavelight'' (2004) * '' Downtown Science'' (2005) * ''

Uncle Tony's Coloring Book ''Uncle Tony's Coloring Book'' is the third solo studio album by American hip hop producer Blockhead. It was released on August 14, 2007. The vinyl edition of the album was later released on Young Heavy Souls. Critical reception Noel Dix of ''Ex ...

'' (2007) * '' The Music Scene'' (2009) * '' Interludes After Midnight'' (2012) * '' Capture the Sun'' (2013) * ''Bells and Whistles'' (2014) * ''Justplaywitit'' (2014) * ''Gone Long'' (2015) * ''Keep Playin (2016) * ''Funeral Balloons'' (2017) * ''The Art of the Sample'' (2017) * ''Free Sweatpants'' (2019) * ''Bubble Bath'' (2019) * ''Space Werewolves Will Be the End of Us All'' (2021) * ''

Garbology Garbology is the study of modern refuse and trash as well as the use of trash cans, compactors and various types of trash can liners. It is a major source of information on the nature and changing patterns in modern refuse, and thereby, human so ...

'' (2021) * ''The Aux'' (2023) * ''Luminous Rubble'' (2024) * ''Mortality is Lit!'' (2024)

Compilation albums

* ''Broke Beats'' (2001) * ''The Block Is Hot'' (2004) * ''Block in the Box'' (2005) * ''The Block Is Hot Pt. 2'' (2005) * ''Peanuts in Your Mouth'' (2007) * ''Quar and Peace'' (2020)

EPs

* ''Preparing for Capture'' (2012) * ''Preparing for Capture 2'' (2012) * ''After Capture'' (2013) * ''Tiny Bubbles'' (2020)

Singles

* "Insomniac Olympics" (2003) * "Sunday Seance" / "Jet Son" (2004) * "Expiration Date" (2005) * "Alright" (2006) * "Nobody's Smiling" (2007)

Productions

- "1,000 Deaths" from '' Appleseed'' (1999) * Aesop Rock - "Commencement at the Obedience Academy"; "I'll Be OK"; "Basic Cable"; "Oxygen"; "Spare a Match"; "Attention Span"; "Drawbridge" and "The Mayor and the Crook" from '' Float'' (2000) * Various Artists - "Water"; "Time to Unravel" and "Woke Up This Morning" from ''Euphony'' (2001) * Aesop Rock - "Daylight"; "Save Yourself"; "Flashflood"; "No Regrets"; "The Tugboat Complex Pt. 3"; "Bent Life"; "The Yes and the Y'All"; "9-5ers Anthem" and "Shovel" from ''

Labor Days ''Labor Days'' is the third studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. It was released by Definitive Jux on September 18, 2001. It is a concept album about work. The album's production was handled by Aesop Rock, Blockhead, and Omega One. ...

'' (2001) * Aesop Rock - "Daylight"; "Night Light"; "Forest Crunk" and "Maintenance" from ''

Daylight Daylight is the combination of all direct and indirect sunlight during the daytime. This includes direct sunlight, diffuse sky radiation, and (often) both of these reflected by Earth and terrestrial objects, like landforms and buildings. Sunlig ...

'' (2002) * Mac Lethal - "Mermaid Pornography" and "Midnight in Manhattan" from ''Men Are From Mars Pornstars Are From Earth'' (2002) * Lodeck - "I Pollute" from ''Bash It'' (2002) * Illogic - "Killing Time" from ''Got Lyrics?'' (2002) *

S.A. Smash S.A. Smash was an American hip hop duo from Columbus, Ohio Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 ...

- "Love to Fuck" from ''

Smashy Trashy ''Smashy Trashy'' is the only studio album by American hip hop duo S.A. Smash. It was released by Definitive Jux on June 3, 2003. It peaked at number 14 on CMJ's Hip-Hop chart. Critical reception John Bush of AllMusic wrote, "The duo doesn't eve ...

'' (2003) * Aesop Rock - "Cook It Up"; "Babies with Guns" and "11:35" from ''

Bazooka Tooth ''Bazooka Tooth'' is the fourth studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. It was released on Definitive Jux in 2003. Critical reception ''Bazooka Tooth'' received generally favorable reviews from critics. Metacritic gave the album a sc ...

'' (2003) *

Murs Murs may refer to: People * Marc Athanase Parfait Œillet des Murs (1804-1878), French ornithologist * Olly Murs (born 1984), English singer-songwriter * Murs (rapper) (born 1978), American rapper Places * Murs, Indre, France * Murs, Vaucluse, Fr ...

- "Happy Pillz" from '' The End of the Beginning'' (2003) * Lodeck - "Applause"; "Feed Me Grapes" and "Beautiful Disease" from ''Dream Dentistry'' (2003) *

Vordul Mega Shamar Gardner (born March 24, 1979), better known by his stage name Vordul Mega (a.k.a. Vordul Megallah), is an American rapper from New York. He is formerly one half of underground hip hop duo Cannibal Ox and a member of the hip hop group Atom ...

- "Struggles" from '' The Revolution of Yung Havoks'' (2004) * Many Styles - "Love Life and Music" from ''Many Styles'' (2004) * Cryptic One - "Apocalypse Zone"; "Unicycle"; "Bicycle" and "Tricycle" from ''The Anti-Mobius Strip Theory'' (2004) * Chase Phoenix - "Twenty Something"; "In Crowd"; "A Thousand Apologies"; "Sticky Pigs Feet"; "Tough Guy"; "Secret Agents"; "Haunting" and "Patience" from ''Cut to the Chase'' (2004) *

Cage A cage is an enclosure often made of mesh, bars, or wires, used to confine, contain or protect something or someone. A cage can serve many purposes, including keeping an animal or person in captivity, capturing an animal or person, and displayi ...

- "Too Heavy for Cherubs"; "Stripes" and "Scenster" from '' Hell's Winter'' (2005) *

Illogic Jawhar Glass (born January 18, 1980), better known by his stage name Illogic, is an American indie hip hop artist from Columbus, Ohio.Mills, BradIllogic Biography, Allmusic, retrieved 2011-06-05 He has collaborated with many artists—particular ...

- "An Ocean" from '' Write to Death'' (2005) * Aesop Rock - "Fast Cars"; "Number Nine" and "Holy Smokes" from ''

Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives ''Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives'' is an EP by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. Released via the Definitive Jux label on February 22, 2005, the record is produced by Blockhead and Aesop Rock himself, with the former producing three tra ...

'' (2005) * Despot - "Crxp Artists" and "Substance D" (2006) * Gon - "Odious Love" from ''Where The Truth Lies: The Moment Between The Intention And Action'' (2006) * Aesop Rock - "None Shall Pass"; "Bring Back Pluto"; "Fumes"; "Getaway Car"; "The Harbor Is Yours"; "No City" and "Coffee" from ''

None Shall Pass ''None Shall Pass'' is the fifth studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. It was released on Definitive Jux on August 28, 2007. Music The album features production by Blockhead, El-P, Rob Sonic, and Aesop Rock himself. Guest appear ...

'' (2007) * Hangar 18 - "The West Wing" and "Room to Breathe" from '' Sweep the Leg'' (2007) * Jakprogresso - "Meditation" from ''Random Violence'' (2007) *

Isaiah Toothtaker Isaiah Philip Camacho (born 1981), known professionally as Isaiah Toothtaker, is an American rapper, tattoo artist, and designer. He is the co-founder of the hip hop collective Machina Muerte. Biography Isaiah Toothtaker was born Isaiah Philip ...

- "Winds Know Better" and "Tucson AZ" from ''Murs 3:16 Presents'' (2008) *

DJ Signify DJ Signify is an American underground hip hop producer. History DJ Signify's first album '' Sleep No More'', featuring collaborations with Sage Francis and Buck 65, was described as "hip-hop at its darkest and most chilling" and earned him accol ...

- "Costume Kids" and "1993" from '' Of Cities'' (2009) *

Open Mike Eagle Michael W. Eagle II (born November 14, 1980), better known by his stage name Open Mike Eagle, is an American hip hop artist and comedian. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, he is now based in Los Angeles, California, where he is a member of the h ...

- "Billy's Quagmire" from ''Extended Nightmares Getdown: The Dark Blue Door'' (2011) *

Armand Hammer Armand Hammer (May 21, 1898 – December 10, 1990) was an American businessman and philanthropist. The son of a Russian Empire-born communist activist, Hammer trained as a physician before beginning his career in trade with the newly estab ...

- "The Press" from ''Half Measures'' (2013) *

Billy Woods Billy Woods (born 1978) is an American rapper based in New York. He is the founder of the record label Backwoodz Studioz, and has been a member of Armand Hammer, Super Chron Flight Brothers, and The Reavers. Early life Billy Woods was born in W ...

- ''Dour Candy'' (2013) * Aesop Rock - "Cat Food" (2014) * Armand Hammer - "F.U.B.U." from ''Furtive Movements'' (2014) * Aesop Rock &

Homeboy Sandman Angel Del Villar II (born September 24, 1980), better known by his stage name Homeboy Sandman, is an American rapper from Elmhurst, Queens, New York, United States. Career Homeboy Sandman recorded and released his first EP, ''Nourishment'', in M ...

- "Environmental Studies" from ''Lice'' (2015) * Billy Woods - "Bicycles", "True Stories", and "Good Night" from ''Today, I Wrote Nothing'' (2015) * Marq Spekt - "Still Right In" from ''Bionic Jazz'' (2016) * Googie - "Big Mouth Arcade" and "Googie Architecture" (2016) * Billy Woods - ''Known Unknowns'' (2017) * Billy Woods - "That Was Then"; "Birdsong" and "Suzerain" from ''Terror Management'' (2019) * Billy Woods & Kenny Segal - "Crawlspace" from ''Hiding Places'' (2009)

Remixes

* The Majesticons - "Suburb Party (Blockhead Remix)" (2003) *

Her Space Holiday Her Space Holiday is the recording moniker of indietronic and indie rock artist Marc Paul Bianchi. History Marc Bianchi began as a musician in the California hardcore scene. He was a part of Indian Summer and Mohinder before assuming the monik ...

- "Meet the Pressure (Blockhead Remix)" from ''The Young Machines Remixed'' (2004) * Hanger 18 - "Beatslope" (Remix of the Remix) (2004) * Cool Calm Pete - "Lost (Blockhead Remix)" (2005) * Omega One - "Off the Horizon (Blockhead Remix)" from ''Memento'' (2006) * Lodeck - "Na Lubom Yazike (Blockhead Remix)" and "Demon Strait (Blockhead Remix)" from ''Behold'' (2007) * Del the Funkee Homosapien - "Foot Down (Blockhead Remix)" (2008) *

Yameen Yameen is an American hip hop producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. His most recent album, "Diamond is Unfadable" was released in 2017 on Rumble Pack Records. Light of Love / Sound of Fire In 2010, Yameen released an anime ...

- "Fire (Blockhead Remix)" from ''Never Knows More'' (2009) * Nacho Picasso - "Benjamin Segal (Blockhead Remix)" from ''For the Glory'' (2011) *

Emancipator Emancipation generally means to free a person from a previous restraint or legal disability. More broadly, it is also used for efforts to procure economic and social rights, political rights or equality, often for a specifically disenfran ...

- "Nevergreen (Blockhead Remix)" from ''Remixes'' (2011) *

DJ Cam Laurent Daumail (born 1973), better known by his stage name DJ Cam, is a French record producer. Daumail's music is largely rooted in hip hop, combined with elements of jazz, dub, and ambient and composed using samples. Daumail first rose to pro ...

- "Love (Blockhead Remix)" from ''Remixed'' (2013) * The Difference Machine - "A Night in the Life of the Day Tripper (Blockhead Remix)" from ''Triangle Schemes'' (2017) *

Anomie Belle Anomie Belle (an·o·me bel) is an American multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, producer, and '' artivist'' from Seattle. Originally a classically-trained violinist and songwriter, Belle began writing and recording music as a child. Bell ...

- "Right Way (Blockhead Remix)" from ''Flux'' (2018) *

- "Pigs (Blockhead Remix)" from ''The Recycling Bin'' (2022) * Aesop Rock - "Defender (Blockhead Remix)" from ''The Recycling Bin'' (2022) * Aesop Rock - "Kodokushi (Blockhead Remix)" from ''The Recycling Bin'' (2022)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Blockhead 1976 births Living people American hip-hop record producers American hip-hop DJs East Coast hip-hop musicians Musicians from Manhattan Record producers from New York (state) Mush Records artists Ninja Tune artists Boston University alumni